The Best Kids Sneakers – Learn About The Best Shoes For Children Ages 3 Through 10

Moms and dads are always trying to provide the best for their kids! However, most parents get confused when they try to figure out which shoes they should buy Are you having a hard time finding the correct pair of shoes for your child? I will help you find the most supportive, best-made shoes for children that provide the optimal stability and flexibility, among other features!

There is a myriad of options to choose from when it comes to children’ shoes, but there are only a limited number of styles that are good for their unique feet. Let’s say for example your child has extra wide feet, then he should only get to choose from a selection of extra wide widths for children. Or, if your child has narrow feet, there will only be a few choices that are going to fit the particular shape of his or her feet.

So…

Which ones do you choose? How can you find narrow, or extra wide widths shoes for your child?

I have been working at a children’s shoe store for over six years and I want to clarify that by “the best shoes” I don’t mean “more expensive” shoes, I mean shoes that offer good support and structure for every day wear that are available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths!

The shoes I will describe in this post are the best ones for your child! I will make it easy and simple for you by only showing you shoes that will keep your kids’ feet healthy!

Did you know that not all seemingly good shoes are the best for your kids? Before worrying about getting the right shoe style remember that the fit of the shoe remains the top priority. if you get your kids shoes that don’t fit, they will not get any of the benefits that the shoe has to offer and you will end up hurting your kids feet’!

I always recommend that parents take their children to their local kids’ shoe store where a shoe fitter will measure and fit him for the perfect pair of shoes! However, if you don’t have a local shoe store in your area that you trust and need to get your kids’ shoe online, you should start by reading a post I wrote where I describe how to make sure your kids’ shoes fit! The post is called:

Do your children always wear right through their shoes? Do you found yourself replacing their shoes every 2 to 3 months? Stop wasting your money! The 4 different styles I will describe below are known not only for providing excellent support, but for also being practically indestructible!

Be aware that the type of shoe you decide to get for your child will have a positive or negative effect the health of your child’s feet. Improperly fitted shoes can negatively affect balance and alignment, and it can also lead to long lasting health problems such as foot, knee, and back pain!

The Best Sneakers For Kids – The Secret Revealed!

First Choice: New Balance 680V5!

We will start with my all-time favorite, the NEW BALANCE 680V5 shoe for both your little and big kids which is one of the best fitting kids shoes made by New Balance.

This shoe has a very firm heel counter (this provides lateral stability for your kid), a substantial sole that offers arch support, and a very deep end which fits children with a high instep. It also offers great durability since the shoe is extremely well made. I can guarantee that your child will outgrow the shoe before anything happens to it.

Let’s take a look at some of the features this style has to offer:

It is available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide.

It fits children that have high insteps.

It allows you to put an orthotic inside the shoe.

It is made of a material that makes the shoe practically indestructible.

It provides maximum arch support.

It has a very firm heel counter.

Second Choice! Asics Pre Contend!

The next shoe I will describe is the ASICS PRE CONTEND made by Asics, which is one of the best supportive shoes for walking and running. This style features maximum support, cushioning, comfort and durability!

Like the New Balance shoe described above, this style provides excellent arch support, lateral stability, and maximum shock absorption. However, unlike the New Balance style, this shoe will NOT fit a wide or extra wide foot.

Let’s take a look at some of the features this style has to offer:

It fits children who have narrow feet.

It provides maximum arch support.

It has a very firm heel counter.

It combines cushioning, comfort, and durability.

Third Choice: Geox!

Have you ever heard of the shoe brand named Geox? They are known for being supportive, indestructible, and they have a system in place that allows your child’s feet to breathe through the sole of the shoe.

This brings us to the next shoe style, which is called the J Marlon 8, one of the best shoes for kids. Did you know that shoe companies have stopped making double velcro strap shoes? This is one of the rare styles that has a double velcro strap with heel/toe protection and maximum ankle support. This shoe style is targeted to health-conscious parents. The innovative perforated rubber sole allows the foot to breathe while protecting and cushioning your kids’ foot.

If you are looking for a pair of indestructible shoes, look no further, this is the shoe for your child!

Let’s take a look at some of the features this style has to offer:

Fits medium to wide feet.

Provides excellent arch support.

It is one of the best made, constructed shoes, which makes it practically indestructible.

It has a very firm heel counter.

It allows the foot to breathe (if your child has sweaty feet, this is one of the most breathable shoes).

It provides more stability because of the double velcro straps.

Fourth Choice: Saucony Baby Ride!

The Saucony Baby Ride style is one of the best shoes that Saucony has ever made for children. Who said that shoes need to be expensive to have good quality, support, and structure? At a very affordable price, this style is the perfect combination of soft, flexible, and durable: All in one shoe!

Let’s take a look at some of the features this style has to offer:

It fits a medium, wide, and extra wide foot.

It provides maximum ankle support.

It provides good arch support.

It is soft, yet supportive for everyday wear

The Best Kids Sneakers – The Secret Revealed!

NEW BALANCE

The shoes below will fit a child that has narrow, medium, or wide feet(choose the width accordingly).

This first selection of shoes fit “short”, which means that you need to go a whole size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.

SAUCONY

The shoes below will fit a child with medium, wide, or extra wide feet.

This selection of shoes fit “true to size”, which means that you need to go a half a size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.

These are the best fitting and supportive shoes for children available right now. I am sure you notice there is a price difference between all of these shoes, but in all honesty, they are all great supportive shoes and you can’t go wrong with any of them. The next step is to make sure you provide your child with the right shoe size!

Don’t Forget About The Fit – It All Starts With A Good Fit!

Most parents would want to buy shoes for their kids’with space to grow into them, with the intention that is a shoe that is bigger than the kid’s feet will allow their feet to grow into the shoe eventually. When fitting kids’ shoes, shoe fitters always leave some room for the child to grow into the shoe.

Now, there is a certain amount of room we can leave in your kids’ shoes in order for them to grow into them. However, you must be very careful and not leave too much space since you will end up compromising their stability. Fitting shoes too long can lead to lack of stability, foot pain, and blisters, among others foot problems!

Always make sure you get your child shoes that are made of high quality materials, such as leather or canvas, since this allows the shoes to mold to the child’s feet for a good fit. NEVER pass down shoes between kids (snow boots and rain boots are the only exception).

When a shoe has been worn by another child, you are forcing your child’s foot into a shoe that has been molded to the shape of someone else’s foot; and a shoe that will not have the same support or structure that a new pair will provide. This can create foot problems from foot, leg, or back pain, to blisters, calluses, and ingrown toenails. Avoid hand me down shoes, they will end up costing you more money in the future. Here is a post where I describe why you MUST STOP handing down shoes. The post is called:

Always conduct frequent checks on the inside and outside of your children’s shoes. Excessive wear around the side or heel of the shoe, scuffed or ripped linings are all signs that your child might be ready for a new pair of shoes. I have provided you with the best shoe styles for kids!

Remember, if you don’t get your child the right shoe size, he or she will not be able to enjoy all the benefits the shoe has to offer! Always make sure you have your children walk and run around the shoe store before you leave, that way you can make sure the shoes feel comfortable on their feet.

I shared with you what I believe to be the best quality shoes for kids in the market now, and I hope you take advantage of it and take care of your kids’ feet by providing them with the most durable, most supportive, and most recommended shoes for them! START taking care of your kids’ feet! Avoid foot problems, injuries, and discomfort!

Please comment below and let us know about your favorite kids’ shoes, or if there is a particular shoe style we should avoid, that way we can all benefit from your experiences!

STOP BUYING THE WRONG PAIR OF SHOES FOR YOUR CHILDREN.LET’S START TAKING CARE OF THEIR FEET!

I created this webpage to help parents understand the importance that shoes have in healthy foot development and how they can prevent foot problems in the future.Join the rest of the parents who are taking care of their kid’s feet and get my guide for free: 10 Mistakes Parents Must Avoid When Buying Shoes for their Kids.

Join the rest of the parents who are taking care of their kids’ feet and get my guide for free: The 5 Most Common Mistakes Parents Make when Buying Their Kids’ Shoes

20 Comments on The Best Kids Sneakers – Learn About The Best Shoes For Children Ages 3 Through 10

I’ve never considered buying these type of shoes for my daughters though I always spend good money on their footwear. Both my daughters have large feet and grow at unbelievably fast rates so go through shoes quickly. I’ll have to bookmark your site and come back to check it when buying shoes next time.

There is a certain amount of growing room we can leave for kids’ to grow into their shoes, if we decide to leave a little bit of extra space for the shoes to last longer, we can end up compromising our kids’ stability. Come back anytime and please let me know if you have any questions.

It was only after my children needed shoes that I realized how important it is to have the best possible fit. When I was a child my shoes were handed down from friends and relations. Is it bad for a child’s feet to wear hand me down shoes? Is foot health of primary importance when buying kids shoes? Also do is it always expensive shoes that are the best or are some of the cheaper brands just as good?

Hand-me-down shoes must be avoided. The only time I feel they are appropriate is when we are passing down a pair of rain boots or a pair of snow boots. I understand that we are all trying to save money, but hand-me-down shoes will end up costing you a lot more money in the long run. You should read one of my posts I wrote about hand-me-down shoes: Second Hand Shoes For Kids – Stop Hurting Your Child’s Feet

To answer your next question, in order to have healthy feet, we must provide our children with the right type of shoes. The shoes that we all wear play a key role in keeping our feet, legs, and back healthy.

Wow! I have been looking for information like this all over the place. We used to have a local shoe store in our area but it closed, so we don’t know where to take our children to have their feet measured. We went to the mall and the salesperson at Stride Rite didn’t know what he was doing.

I ordered from your recommendations the pair of Asics for my son who has the narrowest feet and it fits him perfectly. My daughter has a high instep so we went for the Saucony pair. I bookmarked your page, you have pretty amazing info!

I am glad you found the website informative. Any time you have any specific question do not hesitate in contacting me. I know how hard it can be to find shoes without a local shoe store, and someone who can guide you throught the process of finding the right pair of shoes for your kids’.

Recently, I began buying my daughter Asics shoes since she was diagnosed with onset Scoliosis. Up until then she preferred a very cheap brand of shoes and I could not get her to use the better brands.

Since getting the better shoes, she complains that they hurt her knees, but her doctor says the Scoliosis is nearly detectable. We are working on the knee pains as a possible symptom of being used to shoes that were not supporting her gait.

I will be looking into the Geox brand to see if we can purchase them locally. I like the look of those shoes and will hopefully keep working to find a good quality pair that my daughter likes too.

You gave a very good review of each shoe and I have more information that I did not consider prior to reading your information. Thank you for bringing all to light for me.

Aiscs is top of the line when it comes to support and structure. Make sure she is stretching enough since that will help relieve some of the pain. Geox is also a great brand, just keep trying until you find a pair that works!

I knew it!! I love New Balance. I have a 4 year old son, and I will probably purchase KV888VI by New Balance that you recommended. Are there any other type of shoes that you recommend by New Balance?

Right now, my son has NIKE, and Ninja Turtles Light Up sneakers. I often choose Nike shoes for my son as well. I wonder if there is any issues for those shoes. He really loves the Ninja Turtles shoes specifically for the characters and the lights. Recently, it is hard for me to make him wear the shoes that I like. You know, children start trying to assert their independence, around this age.

Also, I’m interested in Geox. I have never heard about the brand. I wonder why shoe companies stopped making Velcro strap. Is it because of price, inconvenience, or taking time and effort?

Thank you so much for the information. I will come back and find out which shoes I will get for my son.

While we don’t see the Ninja Turtle style at the shoe store I work for, I have seen children wearing them. It is an ok shoe, but much less flexible than other styles. If your child is active, I would advise you to look for a different style.

Geox makes top of the line shoes, great support, very breathable, a shoe that your child can wear every day!

Thank you for the article. Year after year we have problems before school begins finding shoes, not sneakers, that will fit properly. I used to be able to find Mary Janes that would fit my girls. They have a narrow heel and a normal toe area, just like me. It’s so hard they have to wear sneakers until I “happen upon” a pair of shoes. This school year, both girls are in women’s sizes. I can’t find anything! And any shoe that has any kind of comfort, is a hundred dollars! I really don’t know what to do. They will have to wear sneakers everywhere, since school requires them to have their toes and heels covered. Please give more information on the brands of shoes to try that are NOT sneakers. Thank you!

I understand your frustration. First of all let me clarify that a girl’s shoe size 7 (which is the largest girl shoe size) equals to a women’s shoe size 8 1/2. Keep in mind that your girls are in women sizes once they reach a women’s shoe size 9 or up… I just want to make sure your girls are in actual women sizes.

If you can get back at me and clarify your girl’s actual shoe size it will be a great start. But here goes some advice:
The BEST shoe brand for a child that has a wide toed-box but a narrow heel is called “NATURINO”. Have you tried this shoe brand for your girls before? The other shoe brand you should give a try is called “NINA”.

I hope this helps! If you can get back at me with more details, I can probably be a little more specific.

My 3 year old daughter LOVES Sketchers Litebeams. The only problem is she goes through one pair every 2 months. They are light, flexible and I think offer decent support, but they are SO cheap, she blows through them, mostly ripping up the toe area using them as a break when she rides scooters. She INSISTS on light up shoes. I’ve looked at Stride Rite and they don’t seem to have anything comperable to the Litebeams. Most of our local shoe stores don’t carry kids (at least not the shoe stores where you get knowledgable people to help you). I need a good shoe, light up variety that will last her more than 1-2 months.

Most light up shoes are on the “fun side” and not as functional as parents want them to be. Children should always outgrow their sneaker before they destroy them, so you might want to start transitioning her into a more durable shor brand. If she is going to be riding her scooter and being rough on the shoes, there is a shoe brand called Geox which offers good supportive, well-made shoes. Be aware that they might not look as cool as the Skechers she is used to wearing. Here is an example of how they look like:Geox Girl Light Up Sneakers

Did you buy him New Balance because he has wide or extra wide feet? What shoe width does your son wear? If you get back at me telling me his shoe size and his age I can help you find good Nike or Adidas sneakers.

There is a style called Flex Experience that is really good in terms of flexibility and support. I have fitted that shoe style before at the shoe store that I work for, just remember that Nike shoes are not the most supportive type of shoes. You can find that shoe here:

There might be several reasons why your child keeps falling. Please make sure that the shoes that he is wearing are not too short or too narrow. If you can’t see the recommendations please refresh the webpage. I am leaving them here just in case:

About me

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for ten years at a premier children’s shoe store specializing in proper fit for over forty years. Every week I help hundreds of children find the best shoes to fit their particular feet. Bones in children are not entirely developed and if a shoe is not properly fitted, then the child’s body’s biomechanics can be altered. It doesn't matter what type of feet your kids have (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide), there is a style of shoe that will work best for their feet, and you WILL find it here!

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